December 2017 - 2017 Brings Landmark Achievement and more...

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December 2017
 
 

The past year has brought with it many notable achievements, but one milestone best exemplifies the immense progress in the field. There are now more than 100 clinical indications for which focused ultrasound is in various stages of research, development, and commercialization. This is an astonishing increase from the handful that existed when the Foundation was founded in 2006. The Foundation continues to reinforce growth in the field, thanks to the generous support of our donors, board, council and the dedication of our team.

Read more from our Chairman > 
 Foundation News

Blood-Brain Barrier Workshop: Experts Document State of the Field, Develop Roadmap for Future Studies


Last month, the Foundation hosted a blood-brain barrier (BBB) workshop in Washington, DC, to document the state of the field for using focused ultrasound to open the BBB. Four years after the first workshop on this topic, the meeting aimed to answer key questions, identify knowledge and technology gaps, and create an updated roadmap of current and future clinical studies. 

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Psychiatric Workshop Meeting Summary Available


In October, the Foundation and Sunnybrook Research Institute co-hosted a workshop to address clinical directions for using focused ultrasound to treat psychiatric disorders. The discussion centered on current targets like obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression and the possibility of treating other conditions such as anorexia, bipolar disorder, and addiction. A meeting summary is now available, and we encourage you to share it with your colleagues. 

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Reminder: New Grant Program for FUS Cancer Immunotherapy Projects




 

As a key component of the Foundation’s partnership with the Cancer Research Institute, we have established a grant program to jointly fund research projects that will help investigate new focused ultrasound and cancer immunotherapy combination treatments. This first request for proposals seeks preclinical projects relating to how different “modes” of focused ultrasound compare in terms of the immune response generated, and how this immune response correlates with biological, acoustic, and imaging metrics. Letters of intent are due January 15. 

APPLY NOW >

Scientific American Covers New Applications for Focused Ultrasound




 

Scientific American recently published an article on current uses and new potential applications of focused ultrasound. It mentioned recent data on an emerging use of the technology – neuromodulation – and described how bursts of ultrasound energy may be able to alter brain activity. Foundation chairman Neal Kassell, MD, is quoted regarding how ultrasound energy can be manipulated to produce 18 bioeffects. 

READ MORE > 

Watch now: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Webinar


Last week, Optum’s Distinguished Engineer, Rick Hamilton, led an interesting webinar entitled, “The Rise of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.” He examined how many technologies are rapidly evolving to create new sources of data and change the way we interact with the physical world. He then discussed use cases for these technologies in healthcare settings and the promise of new insights into wellness and treatment options. The webinar was broadcast via Facebook Live, and the recording has been viewed more than 400 times. 

WATCH THE WEBINAR >

Symposium 2018: Scientific Committee Selected

 

Twenty-two leading clinicians and researchers have agreed to serve as the Scientific Program Committee for the 6th International Symposium on Focused Ultrasound. The group is responsible for reviewing all abstracts and guiding each session’s structure.

MEET THE COMMITTEE >

Coming soon: Event registration and abstract submission will open early 2018.

Donor Profile: Rick and Susan Goings

 

Rick and Susan Goings are trailblazers in their careers. He serves as Chairman and CEO of Tupperware Brands, and she is an acclaimed newscaster and on-air personality. The pair are also generous supporters of the Foundation, sharing in our passion to help advance healthcare innovation.

READ MORE >

Support the Foundation

 

This has been a year of tremendous growth in the field of focused ultrasound. Your support, enthusiasm, and advocacy have enabled us to advance our mission and improve patients’ lives.

We rely on the generous support of donors to continue our important work. Thanks to an anonymous donor, we recently received a $10 million pledge of unrestricted funds that needs to be matched 1-for-1. We hope you will consider helping us meet this match, appreciating that your gift will be doubled and will help us considerably as we work to advance the field of focused ultrasound.

If you have any questions, please contact Nora Seilheimer.

 Research News

FDA Approves US Blood-Brain Barrier Study for Glioblastomas






 

Israeli company Insightec recently announced that it has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to initiate a study evaluating the feasibility and safety of using focused ultrasound to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier in patients with glioblastomas. The study will take place at the University of Maryland and use Insightec’s Exablate Neuro device.

READ MORE >

Meeting Report: RSNA 2017



 

Radiologists from around the world gathered in Chicago from November 26 to December 1 for the 103rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The program featured 17 focused ultrasound abstracts and a special session on innovation in Israel that described the spectrum of clinical applications for focused ultrasound technology.

SEE THE ABSTRACTS >

Therapeutic Ultrasound is Topic of FDA Webinar




 

Physicist Greg Clement, PhD, of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, recently delivered a presentation as part of the FDA Grand Rounds webcast. His topic, “Assessing the safety and effectiveness of new and emerging therapeutic ultrasound technologies,” covers ultrasound’s transition from diagnostic tool to a non-invasive therapy for many serious disorders. Every other month, Grand Rounds highlights cutting-edge research underway at the FDA and its impact on protecting and advancing public health.

WATCH NOW >

Research Grants Available for Projects at Virginia Institutions


 
 

Virginia Catalyst, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing life sciences throughout Virginia, is offering up to $800,000 of funding to accelerate translational research in the Commonwealth of Virginia through collaborations between industry and Virginia research universities. Letters of intent must be received by February 1, 2018, and awards will be announced in April.

LEARN MORE > 

Research Roundup

  

Focused ultrasound is now being investigated to treat more than 100 conditions in a wide range of specialties. This range is evident in the December Research Roundup, which includes studies or review articles on cancer immunotherapy, vascular malformations, and glaucoma. The systemic effect of tumor ablation is the topic of the review article, and clinical advances are being made for patients with the other two diseases. 

READ THE PAPERS >

JTU Article of the Month – Ultrasound for Insulin Release

  

 

Calcium-dependent Ultrasound Stimulation of Secretory Events from Pancreatic Beta Cells

Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance, insufficient insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells, and genetic and environmental factors. As the disease progresses, the beta cells produce and store insulin, but glucose does not mobilize intracellular calcium, so the insulin is not released. This leads to hyperglycemia and the progression of the disease. To test the feasibility of using ultrasound to treat Type 2 diabetes, researchers at George Washington University completed in vitro work to establish parameters for using ultrasound to trigger release of insulin from the pancreas. 

SEE THE STUDY >
Tell us about your research news for our next newsletter >
 Industry News

Insightec Announces $150 Million Investment



 

Israeli company Insightec shared news that Koch Disruptive Technologies, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, will lead a $150 million round of investment in the company. Insightec plans to use the funds to drive commercialization of their essential tremor treatment and accelerate innovation in product development.

READ MORE > 

Insightec’s Neuro Device Approved in Taiwan




 

The Taiwanese Food and Drug Administration has approved Insightec’s Exablate Neuro device to treat essential tremor patients there. The focused ultrasound device ablates – or destroys – a targeted spot in the brain that is responsible for the benign shaking that is the hallmark of the disease. The treatment is also approved in the US, Canada, Europe, Korea, and Japan.

READ MORE > 

Tell us about your industry news for our next newsletter >
 Media Coverage
Ultrasound Solution: A Gentler Way to Shrink Kids’ Tumors Stanford Medicine December 2017

Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy Promising for Reducing Refractory Tremor in Parkinson Disease NeurologyAdvisor 11/30/17

How Bursts of Ultrasound Can Be Used to Flip Switches in the Brain SingularityHub 11/29/17

Arizona Procedure Could Reduce Side Effects of Prostate Cancer Treatment KTARNews 11/29/17

An Unusual Treatment Saves the Function of a Child’s Arm Scope 11/29/17

Focused Ultrasound in Veterinary Medicine American Veterinarian 11/28/17
 Upcoming Events
January 8-11, 2018 JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, San Francisco, CA

January 9-12, 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas, NV

January 27, 2018 Cancer Research Institute's Immunotherapy Patient Summit, Houston, TX

February 15-19 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting, Austin, TX

 
See the full calendar and submit your event >